First 2012 Kona Pro Slots To Be Handed Out In 10 Days

By Liz Hichens

Published Jul 19, 2012

Updated Oct 31, 2014 at 4:38 PM UTC

Photo: Nils Nilsen

Photo: Nils Nilsen

Photo: Kurt Hoy

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Which pros will be making the start at the 2012 Ironman World Championship? We’ll know the names of 65 professionals, plus a few automatic qualifiers, who will earn a slot to the race in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on Oct. 13 in 10 days.

After months of chasing points, 43 men and 26 women will breathe a sigh of relief on July 29 when they are offered registration to the Ironman World Championship as part of the July qualifying group. There are only four point-earning opportunities left between now and that July 29 deadline: Ironman Lake Placid (7/22), Ironman 70.3 Antwerp (7/22), Ironman UK (7/22) and Ironman 70.3 Calgary (7/29). So who’s in and who’s sweating on the border of the cutoff? Let’s take a look at the standings as of today, July 19.

Men’s Rankings
Three-time Ironman world champion Craig Alexander doesn’t need any points because he’s won the race within the last five years, but he sits comfortably in the top spot thanks to his two world championship (70.3 and Ironman) and his Ironman Asia Pacific Championship title.

Because a top finish in Kona is so important toward the following year’s ranking, most of last year’s top-10 Ironman world championship finishers are in a solid position. The two exceptions are Germany’s Andi Boecherer, who sits outside of the top-40 and has yet to validate with an Ironman finish, and Australia’s Pete Jacobs, who has been battling an injury and plans to validate with a finish at Ironman Lake Placid this weekend.

A few athletes who will be considered legitimate contenders for the Kona podium are near the bottom of the cutoff. Denmark’s Rasmus Henning (No. 35), Germany’s Michael Raelert (No. 38) and Great Britain’s Tom Lowe (No. 39) will all be cutting it close to make the July qualifying group.

Despite not being high in the rankings, Australians Chris McCormack and Greg Bennett will be offered spots to the Hawaii race. McCormack won the Ironman world championship within the past five years and Bennett is the reigning Hy-Vee 5150 champion, giving them both automatic spots (they have both validated with Ironman finishes in 2012). Alexander also meets the automatic selection criteria, so his invitation will not count toward the 40 spots, meaning that ranking in the top-41 will mean a ticket to Kona for the men.

An additional 10 men will be offered spots as part of the August qualifying group on Aug. 27.